Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The sayings of Lukas v29 - Dry banana

Today while we were getting ready for school Lukas started talking to me:

Lukas: Remember when Olivia was born? I'm gonna remember that forever.
Daddy: Luke, do you remember what you said when you first saw Olivia? (below)


He thought about it for a minute.
Lukas: I remember daddy, she really felt like the driest banana ever!

Monday, October 30, 2006

Monday's hot topics - Christian "ghetto"?

TWP made a very interesting comparison between the "Christian community" and the "Gay community".
It's enough that we closet and ghettoize ourselves, and that we have pride parades/marches in the street. The numerous similarities to gay culture are getting a little bit embarassing.
When pressed on the issue he elaborated:
But (Generalizing, putting forth the image/stereotype each group is saddled with):

Some Homosexuals__________________Some Christians
===========___________________==========

-have special symbols____________________-ditto
they can put on their cars to
identify them to others

-march in "Pride" parades__________________-ditto

-enjoy ballady, syrupy, overly_______________-ditto
emotional songs

-are likely to wear t-shirts with_______________-ditto
characteristic slogans on them
which often seem cheesy and
insincere to others

-characterized by a plastic cheerfulness________-ditto
that can seem very fake

-want people to understand that they _________-ditto
are different, and to appreciate and
perhaps even emulate their lifestyle
choices

-feel their way of living makes them special ___-ditto

-want to change the world so it will___________-ditto
conform more to how they choose
to live

-tend to make others uncomfortable__________-ditto
if they start to talk in great detail,
apropos of nothing, about their
personal feelings and views on how
people should live, especially if
there is insufficient relationship
with the person they are prosyletizing

-tend to dress in an identifyingly_____________-ditto
neat and tidy style

-want to ensure the government_____________-ditto
recognizes their lifestyle choices,
and that their chosen lifestyle and
the elements of its culture remain legal

-tend to be self-ghettoized into a distinct ______-ditto
subgroup of society, not mixing socially
with groups that include people who do
not choose to live the way they do

-may find it difficult to confess their__________-ditto
chosen lifestyle to others, who
may not understand


Made me question how I practise my Christianity. Are Christians too ghettoized? If so, is it even a bad thing? Very thought provoking comparison. What are your thoughts?

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Noah's ark commercial

Got this video from a friend in Israel:

Made me wonder, why did God make mosquitos?

Monday, October 23, 2006

Monday's hot topics - Arguing

It seems from time to time that folks on the forum get into arguments and disputes.TWP asks "Is arguing always bad and a waste of time?"
Was Paul wrong to withstand Peter to the face over Peter's life choices? Were Paul and Barnabas wrong to have a dispute? Is it always a good idea to be silent rather than discuss things that may cause disagreement? Does any good ever come from discussing things of this nature? If so, when is it worthwhile to argue or discuss or oppose someone, and when is it not?
Post your argumen...uh..I mean...opinions on the forum here :)

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Costas Macris safe with Jesus

The Founder of Hellenic Ministries Costas Macris passed away last Wednesday. He was 71. Here is the announcement from his son and President Johnathan
-----Original Message-----
From: Johnathan Macris
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 6:15 PM
To: info@hmnet.org.gr
Subject: He Won!

My Dearest Friends and Family and to all who knew and loved my father, Costas Macris:

My sweet, sweet daddy finished the race and won! Daddy stepped over the finish line at 12.40, Wednesday, October 18, two days after my birthday. He gave all he had in this life to gain the victors wreath (crown) of righteousness and eternity with Jesus!

I long to write more about this incredible monumental day in our lives...but for now, it's pretty busy preparing for the memorial/funeral celebration to be held at the First Evangelical Church on Monday, October 23 at 1:15pm Athens time.

Thanks for walking this road of sorrow and joy mixed together.

With gratitude,

Johnathan, for the Macris family

PS I've included the invitation for the funeral/memorial service below.


______________
The Family has chosen to make a Memorial Fund for two of Dad's last desires: 1) The completion and publication of the 'Logos Zontanos' Bible in the modern Greek language; 2) A well at Porto Astro. The Tuesday before he went to the hospital we confirmed plans to move forward on the publication of the Bible, on Wednesday I urged him to cancel the appointment we had with the drilling company so that on Thursday he would have energy for the surgery..... Now we must finish the task he started.


Hellenic Ministries/Greece
12 Lydias St.
Athens 11527
Greece

Office: + 30 (210) 777.9845
Fax: + 30 (210) 748.3733
Mobile: + 30 (694) 523.6554
E-mail: info@hmnet.org.gr
Web site: www.hmnet.org

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Friday, October 20, 2006

Video of the week - Snakes with legs!!

I showed this video last night at Awana in relation to God's cursing the snake in Genesis and thought I'd post it here today. This is a video of the Boa constrictor at the Toronto zoo in the Americas pavilion. Notice the title "Ancestors with legs" and the commentary about how snakes used to have legs (before Adam & Eve sinned)

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Wednesday prayer requests - Immigration

India poised to overtake China as top source of immigrants
62% of the applicants being processed originated in Gulf region countries. Mr. Kurland speculated the surge from that area probably comes from Indian labourers in those countries who, after working in the Gulf states, prefer to seek a new life in Canada rather than return to India.
These are the two most populous countries in the world. The mission field has come to us. What are we doing to reach these people with the gospel?

Monday, October 16, 2006

Monday's hot topics - Christian Music

Forum user "In_the_Lords_army" started a discussion a while back about Christian Music.
In christian music, (the topic at the time was christian rock), does it have to be music with a christian message all the time....or can christian rock just be christians who rock?! I was just wondering on everyone elses oppinion
Got an opinion? Post it on the forum - here

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Wednesday prayer requests - The Pumpkin Hunt!!

That's right it's back again! The Pumpkin Hunt is on October 28th at Sanctuary. Download the poster and get your youth group cause you ain't gonna wanna miss this one. The pumpkin is back and the first team to find all the clues gets to smash him to bits. See you there!

Monday, October 09, 2006

Need a title v20

We'll get back to regular "Hot topics" next Monday but since this is Thanksgiving here in Canada I wanted to post this nice fall picture.
Can anyone think of a good title?

Friday, October 06, 2006

Rejoice!!

I figure we get enough negative news in a day, so whenever something good happens I'll post it here on the athensBLOG so we can rejoice together!

On Tuesday morning I started the engine and noticed a little smoke coming from the front. I opened the hood to discover oil leaking directly onto the pavement, and lots of it! Yikes.

I turned the car off and got CAA to tow it to the mechanic. Needless to say we were terrified it would be a massive bill. After a lengthy wait the mechanic called to tell us that the "oil switch" had broken and after only 95.00 or so we had our van back!! Thank you Lord for keeping our van together!!

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Video of the week - Bed time at Cuthills

Ever wonder why it's sometimes difficult to get us on the phone? Here's a peek into a usual bedtime at our home :) (is bedtime one word or two?)

PS. You can also see some videos of the baptism that took place on Sunday at Bridlegrove - click here

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Wednesday prayer requests (on Tuesday)

Journalistic wonderboy Paul Roides made us this awesome graphic last night. For those who don't know Paul, he is not only the creator of this blog, but he's also the inventor of the "McPray" concept and the designer of the first McPray logo, which you see on the left margin. We feel very privileged to know Paul, and many others of you who have shown your love to us through McPrayer :) Many of you around the world have told us that you are McPraying for us and at the end of the day that is the greatest gift you could give us. So thank you Paul, and thank you to each person McPraying!! :)

Monday, October 02, 2006

Monday's hot topics - Circumcision

Forum member VEaston opened the can of worms when she posted recently on the forum:
I think it is time for a lively discussion on circumcision. I haven't been able to find a whole lot of Christian opinions on this touchy subject, yet I'm sure most of us who've had children have had to make a decision on the subject at some point...
Post your thought on this touchy subject on the forum - here

Sunday, October 01, 2006

October loggin in

01Oct06 - Sun - BofB, FBH with 11 (Dom, kyleisha, Olivia, Alpha, Noah, Raphael, Moses, Mae, Maya, Joselyn & sister), read story to Sunday School, evening Baptism
02Oct06 - Mon - prayer, meeting 7-9
03Oct06 - Tues- car in for repair
04Oct06 - Wed - Prayer with elders (Des), prayer
05Oct06 -Thurs- Read to daycare, lunch with CWood, speak at Awana, Colin over
06Oct06 - Fri - zoo, meeting with Adair, Evaline, Tricia. Youth
07Oct06 - Sat - Pervez
08Oct06 - Sun - BofB, FBH with 15
09Oct06 - Mon - Thanksgiving, parents over
10Oct06 - Tues- Max PC, Gideons
11OCt06 - Wed - DVBC pumpkin hunt video
12Oct06 - Thur- Read to daycare, Awana, Pothaar tuxedo
13Oct06 - Fri - office, Pothaar rehearsal
14Oct06 - Sat - Pothaar wedding
15Oct06 - Sun - BofB, FBH with 23 (Dom, Olivia, Kyleisha, Travon, Jamoy, Hansel, Christoff, Clayon, Alpha, Moses, Mae, Maya, Shamar, Janise, Jocelyn, Kadyja, Troy, Damian, Nathaniel, Tyrell, Oral, + 2 new)
16Oct06 - Mon - Office, airport
17Oct06 - Tues- Ron Adams meet, party
18Oct06 - Wed - prayer, lunch with PC, hamilton seminar
19Oct06 - Thur- read to daycare,
20Oct06 - Fri - dominoes @ wilfreds
21Oct06 - Sat - boys birthday
22Oct06 - Sun - HP parents to airport
23Oct06 - Mon - office catch up
24Oct06 - Tues- Kyle
25Oct06 - Wed - prayer with elders, prayer
26Oct06 - Thur- Ron Adams, Awana
27Oct06 - Fri - Youth vs. F.O.M.
28Oct06 - Sat - Pumpkin Hunt
29Oct06 - Sun - BofB(shared), FBH with 15, evening service
30Oct06 - Mon - office catch up
31Oct06 - Tues-